Chapter 35: I Hate Mages [Bonus]

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: I Hate Mages [Bonus]

The man stared at the gun in Daniel’s hand. His brow furrowed. His head tilted to the side. He looked like a dog trying to understand a new command.

"What is that?" he asked.

Daniel didn’t lower the gun. "What does it look like?"

The man squinted. "It looks like... metal. A small metal tube. What are you going to do with that? Hit me with it?"

Daniel sighed. "Okay. Let me ask you something. What are the best and most feared weapons in history?"

The man blinked. "What?"

"Answer the question. Best and most feared weapons. Go."

The man thought about it. His face scrunched up with concentration. "Um... a sword?"

Daniel shook his head. "No, no, no. A lot of people might think that, but that’s not correct."

"A spear?" the man tried.

"Nope. Sword is greater than spear."

"A great sword?"

"No."

The man’s face lit up. "Oh! Oh! I know it now! A legendary sword!"

He said it with the confidence of a child who had finally gotten an answer right after failing many times. Daniel stared at him.

"I have no idea what that is," Daniel said flatly.

The man’s face fell. Then it lit up again. "Oh! Oh! Oh! A magic staff!"

He jumped slightly, excited. Daniel sighed.

"Okay, I don’t know how strong that is, so let me just answer the question for you." He tapped the gun with his free hand. "It’s a gun."

The man frowned. "The fuck is that?"

"This stuff in my hand."

The man looked at the gun again. Then he burst out laughing. A loud, mocking laugh that echoed through the tavern.

"That puny thing?" he wheezed. "That little metal tube? That’s your weapon? That’s the most feared weapon in history? Ha!"

Daniel waited. He didn’t say anything. He just let the man laugh.

From the floor, Baron’s voice cut through the noise. "What are you stupid? I told you to kill that guy!"

The man’s laughter stopped instantly. He straightened up, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry, young master," he mumbled. He turned back to Daniel, his sword raised. "Alright. Enough talking. Time to die."

He lunged forward, sword raised, ready to strike.

Daniel pointed the gun. "No, no, no, stupid. Am not done."

He fired.

A small bullet of pure mana shot from the barrel. It zipped through the air and struck the man in the leg. The man gasped. His eyes went wide. His leg buckled, and he crashed to the floor, his sword clattering beside him.

Daniel lowered the gun. He watched as the man struggled to his feet. The man looked down at his leg. There was a small hole in his pants. The skin beneath was red and raw. The mana bullet had already dissipated, leaving nothing behind.

The man looked up at Daniel. His eyes were wide. His mouth was open.

"Are you a mage?" he asked.

Daniel shrugged. "Kind of."

The man’s face twisted with rage. Pure, burning, irrational rage.

"I HATE MAGES!"

He grabbed his sword and charged. His speed was impressive. His movements were wild but powerful. He slashed at Daniel, the blade cutting through the air where Daniel’s head had been just a moment before.

Daniel dodged. Casually. He stepped to the side, then back, then ducked under another swing.

"Looks like someone hates mages," Daniel said, his voice calm. "What was it? Did a mage break your heart?"

The man roared and swung again. Daniel dodged.

"Or did he steal your wife?"

The man stopped. His sword froze mid-swing. His face crumpled.

Daniel blinked. He hadn’t expected that.

"I loved her," the man said. His voice cracked. Tears welled up in his eyes. "I loved her so much. But she left me. Said I was too dumb. Said I couldn’t keep her. Then... then I saw her with a mage. A puny little mage. She went with him. From that day, I promised myself I would only listen to the first person I saw."

Daniel stared at him. "What type of logic is that?"

The man continued, tears streaming down his face. "So I saw the young master. And I vowed to follow him. To serve him. To protect him."

Baron, still on the floor, looked confused. "I thought you were doing it for the money."

The man ignored him. "So from then on, I decided to kill all mages that piss me off."

A blue aura began to surround his sword. It crackled and hummed, growing brighter with each passing second. The man pointed the blade at Daniel. His eyes were red from crying, but they were also hard. Determined.

"You’re a mage," he said. "You pissed me off. So you die."

He raised the sword. The blue aura flared. Then he slashed.